NEWS and EVENTS
TUESDAY NOON BIBLE STUDY
in the Guild Parlor
Join us on Tuesday, August 26, where we will continue the study of the Gospel of Luke, with chapters 11 and 12.
Contact: Gates Elliott, gelliott@stjjax.org.
AN INVITATION TO SING AT ST. JAMES’
If you are interested in becoming part of our vocal music ministry, we would love to have you with us. We rehearse each Wednesday from 6:00-7:30 pm. Members of the choir sing at both the 8:40 and 11:05 Sunday services and offer other sung services throughout the year. In St. James’ choir you truly could not find a more welcoming group or a safer space to share and to grow your vocal gifts. Feel free to contact Jonathan Trotter with any questions you may have! jtrotter@stjjax.org
DAVID PRICHARD CONTEMPLATIVE OFFERINGS
SILENT CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER: Wednesdays, 7:45 - 8:30 am, St. Francis Chapel in Gray Hall next to the Moyer Room. All forms of silent prayer/meditation welcome, though Centering Prayer instruction—the Christian prayer practice of opening one’s “mind and heart, our whole being to God, the Ultimate Mystery, beyond thoughts, words, and emotions”—will be offered with discussion at 7:45 a.m. prior to the group sit at 8:00. Contact David Prichard to learn more at 601-503-7810.
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: “The ministry of spiritual direction can be understood as the meeting of two or more people whose desire is to prayerfully listen for the movements of the Holy Spirit in all areas of a person’s life (not just in their formal prayer life). It is a three-way relationship: among the true director who is the Holy Spirit (which in Christian tradition is the Spirit of Christ present in and among us), and the human director (who listens for the directions of the Spirit with the directee), and the directee.” — Tilden Edwards. Contact David Prichard to learn more or set up an exploratory session at 601-503-7810.
About David Prichard: David’s grounding in contemplative practice and instruction is the result of nearly 15 years as a student in the meditative tradition of Shambhala Buddhism, a time of deep retreats, with half a year in solitary retreat, over a year in group retreats, and thousands of hours of daily practice. As a Meditation Instructor, he met with students to aid them in their retreats and to help establish meaningful daily practices. His return to Mississippi and the Church spurred him to seek the mystical equivalents within the Christian tradition. Inspired now by the practices of ‘attention of the heart’ in the Eastern church, and those of Centering Prayer in the West, he is also training with the Shalem Institute to help make contemplative prayer and spiritual direction more widely available.
DIOCESE OF MISSISSIPPI COMMUNICATION UPDATES
Bishop Wells is working to enhance communication with all members of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi.
To facilitate this, she is requesting email addresses, which will allow for direct email delivery of important updates, including:
· Messages from the Bishop
· The Mississippi Episcopalian
· TME-News
Parishioners can easily subscribe themselves by visiting this link:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/aBQf1mM/diomscomm
Please be assured that the Diocese of Mississippi is committed to protecting this information.
It will not be shared with any third parties, and parishioners will have the option to unsubscribe at any time.
ADULT FORMATION
Sunday Mornings at 9:50 to 10:50 am
We have three Adult Formation Offerings:
Holy Conversations Lectionary Class gathers in the Parish Library.
Explorations gathers in Oak Ridge Hall. (Resumes August 24)
Life with the Sacred Text, a small group reflection on various topics and their relevance as relates to Scripture and daily life, gathers in the Guild Parlor, just off Fowler Hall.
All adult offerings are open and inclusive of adults of any age or interest, no experience required.
Grab coffee and donuts in Fowler Hall and join one of our Adult formation offerings SUNDAYS at 10:00am.
REGULAR WEEKDAY OFFERINGS
MONDAYS, 2pm – Twisted Stitchers, Guild Parlor
TUESDAYS, 7am - Holy Eucharist, Church
Noon - Bible Study, Guild Parlor
WEDNESDAYS, Noon - Trellis Book Group, Library
5:00 - 7:00 pm - Wednesday Night Supper , Fowler Hall
THURSDAYS, 7am - Men's Bible Study, Guild Parlor
ST. JAMES’ SCHOOL REGISTRATION FOR 2025-2026
School information and registration application can be found on the St. James’ School page, or you may contact
Kathryn Briscoe -- kbriscoe@stjjax.org or the school office at 601-941-4296.
SEEKING BAPTISM?
If you or someone you know is seeking Baptism, contact one of our clergy or Kathy Stephens: kstephens@stjjax.org.
2025 BAPTISMAL DATES:
Sunday, November 2, All Saints Sunday, 8:40 or 11:05 am services
2026 BAPTISMAL DATES:
Sunday, January 11, The Baptism of our Lord
Saturday, April 4, Easter VIgil
Sunday, May 24, Pentecost
Sunday, July date TBD, St. James’ Sunday
Sunday, November 1, All Saints Sunday
LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS ON SUNDAYS!
Be sure to watch with the whole family!
St. James' will livestream the 10:00 am services on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stjjax.org.
The Service Leaflet is available on the website and on the ‘This Sunday’ email.
SEND US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
If the church does not already have your email address, or if there have been any changes, please send it to Kathy Stephens at kstephens@stjjax.org.
FLOWERS ON THE ALTAR
If you are interested in giving flowers for a month either in thanksgiving or in loving memory of anyone, call Kathy Stephens at 601-982-4880 or
email her at kstephens@stjjax.org. The cost of this is $50 and the flowers are published in our 7:30 am service leaflets, in our Sunday announcements,
and on our website for the month. This is a perfect way to remember someone or to say thank you.
WATCH OUT FOR SCAMMERS!
Please be aware that scammers have gotten some of our work email addresses and are sending out emails that look like they come from St. James' staff. If you receive one of these please know that we would never reach out to you and ask you for money or for you to buy gift cards, etc. Usually you can tell from the extension on the email. All of St. James' staff have our first initial and last name followed by @stjjax.org. If you have any doubt at all please call our office at 601-982-4880.
MEMORIALS AT THE COLUMBARIA
Flowers and mementos left on the columbarium as memorials are a normal part of grieving and are allowed by the Church. Memorials may not be left at either of the inside columbaria. Only fresh flowers may be placed on the outside columbarium. St. James' will remove all flowers once they start to wilt. Mementos left on the outside columbarium will be removed daily. Due to the possibility of breakage and injury, glass of any sort is not allowed on the columbarium.